Advertising device



June 24, 1941.

J. 'r. LAWLOR ADVERTISING DEVICE Filed Jan. 9. 1939 INVENTOR rid/70V TLHWLO/F BY 'ATTORN Y Patented June 24, 1941 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

3 Claims.

This invention relates to advertising devices, and the object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described comprising a holder having substantially similar front and rear wall portions having rotatable indicating means arranged therebetween on which is disposed characterized panels or sections adapted to be selectively exposed through openings in one of said wall members, and still further to the provision of spaced projecting members on said means cooperating with apertures formed in said wall members in providing stops in the rotation of said means for positively aligning the characterized panels or sections with said apertures; a further object being to provide a device of the character described employing adjustable members providing on the device a perpetual calendar; and with these and other objects in View, the invention consists in a device of the class and for the purpose specified, which is simple in construction, and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the several parts of my invention are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a calendar made according to my invention showing parts cut away to clearly indicate the construction thereof.

Fig. 2 is a view substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

To illustrate one method of carrying my invention into effect, I have shown in the drawing a calendar support ill having a front wall I l and a rear wall I? secured together at predetermined edge portions thereof as indicated at [3. The walls I l and 12 may be made of any one of a number of materials depending upon the elaborateness of the calendar desired. An inexpensive cardboard structure may be employed in which case the securing means l3 would comprise a suitable adhesive. On the other hand, a more permanent structure of sheet metal might be employed having edge portions welded or otherwise secured together. Any one of a number of plastic materials might also be employed in forming a permanent and attractive support.

The front wall H and the rear wall l2 of the support may comprise independent blanks as indicated in the drawing or may be formed from a single blank folded along predetermined edge portions such for example as the top edge I4 01' the bottom edge [5 of the device. The rear wall of the device has means for maintaining the calendar in an upright position. In the drawing.

this means is shown as comprising a foldable leg l6 forming an easel support. It will be understood, however, that other means may be provided for hanging or otherwise supporting the calendar.

Arranged between the front wall II and the rear wall l2 are a plurality of overlapping circular discs. The larger disc I! is pivoted to the front and rear wall at a point substantially centrally thereof by an eyelet It or other suitable means forming a free axis of rotation of the disc 11. The smaller disc I9 is pivoted to the front wall at a point centrally of the lower end portion thereof by a similar eyelet Ida, the disc [9 being arranged between the disc I! and the front wall ll of the device. At predetermined equidistant points around the circumference of the discs IT, is are projecting lugs or tongues 20, 2M forming means for rotating the discs.

The edges of both the front and rear walls have elongated notched or recessed portions 21, 2la. arranged at opposite sides thereof symmetrical with respect to the axis it of the disc. The notches 2|, Zia are of sufficient length to operatively expose a single projecting tongue 20 of the disc I! at each side of the device, and are ,curved at the lower ends 22, 22a thereof to correspond with the curved edges 23, 23a of the projecting tongues 2c. The upper portions of the notches 2i, Zia are shaped to disposed a tongue 20 on each side of the device in position to be readily engaged by the finger of the operator, and

the length of the notches 21, 2 la correspond with the spacing of the successive projections 20 on the disc ll, the spacing between like edges of two adjacent projecting members being substantially equal to the length of each of said recesses. In operating the device, the projecting tongue it on either side of the device is engaged by the finger of the operator and moved downwardly until the curved edges 22, 23 or 22a, 23a of the tongues and the notched portions are in alinement. The curved edges 22, 22a of the notched portions serve as positive stops which insure accurate alinement of the disc in its various positions of adjustment, while at the same time disposing the next adjacent projections in operable position, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The front wall of the device in the form shown in the drawing is provided with a plurality of apertures 24 arranged over a substantially triangular area corresponding with the individual sectors of the disc ll included between successive projections 29. The characterized portions 25 of the disc I! likewise correspond to the individual sectors between successive projections 25 of the disc and are arranged on the disc so as to be in alinement with the apertures E i when the projections 2!] are in alinement with the positive stops 22, 22a of the notches 2i, Zia. In other words, it will be apparent that proper movement of the disc by the operator, automatically alines the characterized portions with the apertures. The proper movement of the disc is indicated by the arrows 26. In the particular form of device shown in the drawing, it will be apparent that the characterized portions 25 of the disc are arranged between successive projections 20 thereof. It will be understood of course that this particular arrangement is not necessary since the position of the characterized portion 25 with respect to the projections 2!! depends on the number of projections and characterized portions which are arranged on the disc and also depends on the position of the positive stops with respect to the axis iii of the disc.

The small disc l9 serves to selectively indicate the name of the month and consequently the disc I9 will have twelve evenly spaced projections Etc. The lower edge of the device is notched as at El to individually dispose the projections 28a in operative position. The sides of the projections are curved as at 28 to correspond with the curved portion 2la of the notch 2'1. Movement of successive projections 26a in the direction of the arrow 29 until the curved portions 28, 21a are in alinement, automatically measures the movement of the disc. In this connection it will be apparent that the curved portion 27a of the notch 2? acts as a positive stop similar to the stops 22, 22a previously described. An aperture 36 is provided in the front wall of the device for viewing the circumferentially arranged characterized portions 3| of the disc l9, which in the form shown in the drawing comprise the names of the twelve months of the year.

The front wall I! has a pair of spaced vertical apertures 32 arranged on either side of the eyelet lfia, having corresponding points substantially equidistant therefrom. A transverse calendar strip 33 is arranged on the front wall H of the device with the end portions extending through the apertures 32 to dispose said end portions thereof between the wall II and the disc [9.

The strip 33 is characterized to form a number chart which constitutes a perpetual monthly calendar. Predetermined sections of the chart selectively represent the various calendar months depending on which day of the week the first of the month falls. The side edges of the vertical apertures 32 are so spaced as to expose only one month section of the calendar strip at one time and it will be apparent that the strip 33 is slidable transversely in the apertures 32 in making the desired adjustment thereof, while being frictionally supported in any position of adjustment. A projection 34 on the strip 38 is provided to facilitate the adjustment of the strip while at the same time limiting the horizontal movement thereof in both directions and preventing accidental displacement of the strip from the apertures 32.

The front wall ll also has means arranged, as at 35, between the aperture and the apertures 32' for identifying the day-s of the week to correspond with the exposed portion of the strip 33. The means 35 for indicating the days of the week may comprise any suitable panel arranged in the front wall I I, and for purposes of illustration the panel is shown as comprising a characterized strip 36 having end portions passing through apertures 3'! in alinement with the apertures 32. The strip 36 is preferably secured against displacement to form a permanent panel in the front wall of the device.

The particular arrangement of the date indicating portions of the calendar is shown merely to illustrate one form of the device, and it will be understood that the date and other indicating means may be arranged at any desired operable position on the device. Similarly, the notched portions may be arranged at any desired position on modified forms of the device, and the particular external contour of the device may be altered to produce novel and effective designs.

While a device of this type comprising a perpetual calendar and a source of other useful information may be sturdily and elaborately constructed, to form a permanent household or office fixture, it is also particularly adapted to be inexpensively constructed for use and distribution in advertising. In this instance, it will be apparent that the extensive surface of the front wall forms an ideal area for advertising matter.

For purposes of illustration, the large disc H has been characterized with cocktail recipes. It will be apparent, however, that any other information of lasting interest may be as effectively employed on the disc. Furthermore, the number of characterized sectors on the disc I? and the size of the apertures 24 may be altered in adapting the device to different uses. In any event, however, it will be understood that the notched portions 2!, 2m will be so arranged and will be of such size that the curved portions 22, 22a thereof will function as positive stops to successively aline the characterized portions of the disc with the apertures 24 when the disc is rotated.

While for purposes of illustration the apertures 24 on the corresponding characterized portions 25 of the disc have been shown as substantially comprising sectors of the disc, it will be understood that this does not constitute a structural limitation of the invention. It will be apparent that the apertures 26 may be arranged in spaced relation on the front wall of the device to more readily adapt the device to the particular use for which the same is intended. In this more or less random arrangement of the apertures, it must of course be borne in mind that the different characterized portions 25 of the disc which register with the various apertures 24, are arranged in circumferential zones to correspond with each aperture. In arranging the apertures in random or spaced relationship, it will therefore be apparent that each aperture must lie in a separate circumferential zone with respect to the axis !8 of the disc.

Irrespective of the particular arrangement of the apertures and the corresponding characterized portions of the disc, it will be apparent that the arrangement of the notched portions at the side edges of the device, corresponding in size and shape to the particular arrangement of projections on the disc, will form positive stops to properly aline the characterized portions with the apertures and at the same time will dispose next adjacent projections in position to be readily accessible to the operator.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v

1. A device of the class described comprising a holder consisting of substantially similar front and rear wall members, a large disc arranged and rotatably mounted within and between said wall members, opposed side edges of the wall mem bers having elongated recesses of predetermined length, said disc having equally spaced projecting members at the periphery thereof, the spacing between like edges of two adjacent projecting members being substantially equal to the length of each of said recesses, thereby maintaining only one of said members exposed through each of said recesses in any position of said disc, said exposed members facilitating clockwise and counter-clockwise rotary movement and alinement of said disc in the selective downward movement of said members to stop positions at the lower ends of said recesses, the front wall of said device having an aperture exposed to one surface of the disc, and said surface of the disc having circumferentially spaced characterized sections brought into accurate registering alinement with the aperture in said front wall in the aforesaid intermittent rotary movements imparted to said disc.

2. A device of the class described comprising a holder consisting of substantially similar front and rear Wall members, a large disc arranged and rotatably mounted within and between said wall members, opposed side edges of the wall members having elongated recesses of predetermined length, said disc having equally spaced projecting members at the periphery thereof, the spacing between like edges of two adjacent projecting members being substantially equal to the length of each of said recesses, thereby maintaining only one of said members exposed through each of said recesses in any position of said disc, said exposed members facilitating clockwise and counter-clockwise rotary movement and alinement of said disc in the selective downward movement of said members to stop positions at the lower ends of said recesses, the front wall of said device having a plurality of apertures arranged radially with respect to the axis of said disc and exposed to one surface thereof, and said surface of the disc having a plurality of circumferentially spaced sections brought into accurate registering alinement with said radially spaced apertures in said front wall in the aforesaid intermittent rotary movements imparted to said disc.

3. A device of the class described comprising a holder consisting of substantially similar front and rear wall members, a large disc arranged and rotatably mounted within and between said wall members, opposed side edges of the wall members having elongated recessed portions of predetermined length, said disc having equally spaced projecting members at the periphery thereof, the spacing between like edges of two adjacent projecting members being substantially equal to the length of each of said recesses, thereby maintaining only one of said members exposed through each of said recesses in any position of said disc, said exposed members facilitating clockwise and counter-clockwise rotary movement and alinement of said disc in the selective downward movement of said members to stop positions at the lower ends of said recesses, the front wall of said device having an aperture exposed to one surface of the disc, said surface of the disc having circumferentially spaced characterized sections brought into accurate registering alinement with the aperture in said front wall in the aforesaid intermittent rotary movements imparted to said disc, upper edges and corner portions only of said wall members being secured together, and the side edges of the wall members tapering inwardly from both the top and bottom thereof to said recessed portions to dispose said portions including the projecting members of the disc within the boundaries of upper and lower portions of said wall members.

JOHN T. LAWLOR, 

